‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ relies on tension and mystery

To make an effective horror movie you need to have an atmosphere that alternates between suspenseful and relieving moments as well as likeable and relatable characters. “10 Cloverfield Lane,” the impressive feature length directorial debut of Dan Trachtenberg, delivered that perfectly. Unlike other typical horror movies, “10 Cloverfield Lane” relies on tension and mystery to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

“10 Cloverfield Lane” is not a direct sequel to Cloverfield. The two movies take place at the same time but are not directly related to each other. It is not necessary for the audience to have watched the Cloverfield movie beforehand. A major difference between the two movies is that “10 Cloverfield Lane” focuses more on the character development than the actual supernatural entities while Cloverfield does the opposite.

Michelle is not your typical ditzy and clumsy horror movie heroine. She is resourceful, smart and very likeable. As the lead male actor, John Goodman portrayed his character, Howard, perfectly. His charisma makes it hard to dislike the character and leaves you curious about his past.

“10 Cloverfield Lane” keeps the audience guessing and at times would give the audience very subtle hints about the characters themselves. The hints tie in together so neatly that it strengthens the character’s background. There are so many hints that you probably need to watch the movie again to fully catch all of them.

I would recommend the movie to everyone. If you are still not convinced, the trailer for the movie might drive you to the theaters.